SVG position is principle and law
One day after our nation celebrated its 47th anniversary of independence, our leadership engaged in a simple but courageous act of international statecraft that should make all of us proud to be Vincentians.
At the United Nations in New York, where the General Assembly yet again voted overwhelmingly demanding an end to the American-sponsored blockade against Cuba, our country stood firmly on law and principle and voted yes.
This is no simple feat considering the threats, pressures and blackmail exerted by the diplomats representing the American regime. Since 1992, the UN General Assembly has voted against the unilateral American sanctions, correctly labelling the embargo a violation of international law.
The sanctions are really an act of international terrorism for which various American regimes have become notorious.
Oct. 6 marked the 50th anniversary of the criminal bombing of the Cubana Airline just off Barbados by assassins on the payroll of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that took the lives of 73 innocent civilians. On Oct. 9, 1967, Che Guevara, the legendary revolutionary who played a key role in the triumph and consolidation of the Cuban revolution, was captured and assassinated in a CIA-led operation in Bolivia.
This year, the Americans pulled out all the stops to further their dastardly acts of collective punishment against the Cuban people. Frustrated by the proud defiance led by the Cuban leaders, America, which has tightened its blockade by preventing fuel delivery into the country, ramped up its diplomatic propaganda as its top leaders, President Trump and War Secretary Marco Rubio, threaten military aggression.
Our leaders’ principled position is even more noteworthy in the face of Trinidad’s weak-kneed subservience. Kamla Persad-Bissessar ordered her country to vote against the resolution calling for the end of the criminal blockade. Jamaica and Guyana, shirking their responsibility as historical leaders in the region, along with Haiti, abstained, while Antigua, Dominica, and St Lucia stayed away from the vote.
Our leaders must watch for strong pushback from the colossus in Washington. This is the third time in its short existence that it has disregarded American dictates and its institutions like the International Monetary Fund. Earlier this year, PM Godwin Friday said his government would push ahead with establishing a development bank against the IMF’s advice. He has also reiterated his government’s intention to launch a citizenship-by-investment (CIB) programme despite the European Union’s arrogant bullying demands that regional governments end these programmes or face visa, financial, and other restrictions.
Although this year saw more “No” votes and abstentions than usual, the campaign ended in defeat. After weeks of pressure and visible U.S. interest, the overwhelming global consensus remained squarely on ending the embargo. The result underscores that the international community remains committed to engagement and respect for sovereignty, while the United States finds itself isolated in defending a sanctions regime that harms ordinary Cuban families.
Many of those who were pressured to vote no, abstain or stay away from the assembly faced immediate bilateral calculations — access to U.S. credit or debt relief, IMF/World Bank programme considerations, security and defence cooperation, migration and visa arrangements, or trade preferences — that can create leverage unrelated to the resolution’s merits.
A few years ago, the vote was 185 to 2. On Wednesday, it was 130-17 with 25 abstentions. Overall, these tactical shifts do not change the strategic picture: an overwhelming majority of the world continues to condemn the embargo.
Beyond today’s ballot, the costs of persisting with broad, extraterritorial sanctions are stark. Cuba’s 2025 UN report estimates $7.556 billion in embargo damages from Mar 1, 2024 to Feb. 28, 2025, a 49% year-over-year increase — or about $630 million per month. Losses are led by $2.608 billion in foregone exports and $2.570 billion in re-routing and shipping, not to mention other sectors hit particularly hard, including agriculture ($932.3m), energy (the utility alone $279.3m), construction ($161.9m), education ($89.8m), and industry ($51.1m).
The world is going through a dark period. Yet through it all, the Cuban Revolution has been a beacon of light. From the sacrifices paid in blood, sweat, and tears that contributed significantly to the liberation struggles against apartheid and colonialism and to independence in Southern Africa, to the fight against Ebola in West Africa and the development and delivery of vaccines during the COVID plandemic, Cuban solidarity and assistance have been exemplary. The world needs more points of light.
Cuba is no sponsor of terrorism, as American politicians slanderously claim. It is literally a giver of life and hope and a protector of some of humanity’s most basic principles. Consider Cuba’s contribution to global education. A recent study revealed that since 1971, Cuba has trained around 74,000 international students, free of cost, from 159 countries. With the possible exception of the Soviet Union, no other country comes close to offering this amount of selfless assistance.
So, when our country stands on the international stage at the United Nations and votes to demand an end to the American illegal and barbaric embargo against our brothers and sisters in Cuba, we proudly stand on the right side of history.
